Part 2 : How do we heal a bullied brain Lets use the brain gym. we work out our body at a gym but not our brains!! why dont we work out our brains!! How do we start to look at a bullied brain as a broken brain that can be healed. Its not easy and it will take time but we can heal the scars of our past.    In this episode i ask one the worlds leading experts on this topic   how we can use the people around us to heal our scars i give personal examples from my own life to try and connect the dots between the past and future we finish with the most important question of all How do we cause lasting change?   https://www.bulliedbrain.com           

Let's focus on a bullied brain and how we are built to normalise a bullying culture Do you really understand the damage caused by bullying and the normalisation of it?  The brain does not lie but we can not see it like we see a physical injury like a broken arm. what is a broken brain? Let's look at and talk openly about the damage bully can cause!!    in this episode i ask 4 questions  1. Is there a difference between the development of a bullied brain vs un bullied? 2. old school environment's and negative phrases which reflect negative role modelling. 3. unpicking why unhealthy environments thrive 4. negative self talk, bullying yourself. Jen shares his thoughts and knowledge and helps guide us through the reasons why we need a new approach to bullying.  https://www.bulliedbrain.com    

Whats it like from the coaches perspective in academy football?  having spent over a decade in football coaching from grassroots to 1st team. Matt shares his experiences from building an academy with Torquay FC through to post 16s coach and tutor with Plymouth Argyle FC at the time of recording.  Full time coaching is all consuming and there is a struggle for a work life balance and matt expresses how relentless the journey can be as a nomadic coach. Having spent time in every stage of football development Matt shares his thoughts on coaching, sessions, styles, success and how success can change based on your environment.  The gem here is that coaching is a cake but how you decorate your cake is decided by the coach!  

Jennifer Fraser PHD is about to help change our understanding and approach to bullying with aim of healing the mental scars it creates.  YES we can heal the scares but why don't we talk about the brain!! This conversation will open the door to change and build a foundation to help you understand why we need a new approach. you can teach an old dog new tricks!! We want to be healthy, fit and active yet we constantly ignore the brain from the equation. We discuss the foundations to change with Emotions, memories, neural plasticity explained so you can find your own path to understanding why bullying has such a massive effect on your health years after it has finished. Jennifers web site  https://www.bulliedbrain.com/    Jennifers Twitter https://twitter.com/teachingbullies

Marks journey to a 1st team is in stark contrast to almost all others.  From dropping out of football after being released by Celtic at 16 to a pro contract at 23 via junior and university football. The trials and tribulations of dealing with the pressure of chasing the football dream. Mark helps to explain and explore how you have to managing self expectations and talks the transition from full time football. this comes as he realises that a change to part time football is needed for life after football.  

Chris explains the support provided within his role as the PFA Scotland Development officer.  We chat about his career in football from his youth days at Motherwell to the first team at Clyde, Dunfermline and East Fife. Chris also spent time coaching in the youth academy at hearts so we get his thoughts on development and what he thinks can help on the journey to the 1st team. Chris gives a great insight into life as a footballer and how the need to go the extra mile and work harder than others is vital to success. 

Reece is incredibly honest and open in this episode. Reece reflects on his time in academy football, dealing with injury, his thoughts on luck and how it can really effect people. He opens up on how difficult it can be adjusting to new coaches and new environments. Reece explains what it is like going from the highest of highs to real lows and i am so thankful and really respect the bravery he shows in this episode. 

Dr Adam Kelly works as an interdisciplinary educator and author who has worked, coached and played within professional football. In this episode we talk about the oppertunities and drawbacks within the youth development pathways of professional football. We also talk about early engagement in sport, Relative age effect and playing up in football which are specialist areas of Adams. Adam talks about current research and how we can improve our selection pathways within football. This episode really opens up the academic perspective of youth development. Is it time to think a little bit more in how we develop athletes?  

Adam opens up on his journey so far through academy football and into the full time environment. A really open and honest conversation. Some great examples around learning from mistakes and discovering other areas of life that can help you improve. Adam talks about the transitions to full time training and key moments which helped him develop into person he is today. We also find out why Adam will never be late again!!

Richard shares his knowledge and thoughts on his approach to supporting, nurturing and improving key sporting relationships. We discuss conflict, relationship building, key areas for communication and ways of giving feedback. We also discuss the power a coach/club has. Positive ways to improve the learning support network. Failure, emotions and how to build the foundations for a great parent, athlete, coach relationship. 

Gordon has built a platform around his organisation WWPIS Working with Sports Parents. Gordon is a Teacher, coach, author and in this episode he shares his thoughts and knowledge on a variety of subjects. The aim here is to help provide some support for sporting parents and organisations as we discuss topics such as the car journey home, competition for places, role modelling and what you learn from the pitch that can help build character and life skills.

Kyle talks about his journey through academy football and 1st team training at just 15. Creating coping strategies that help move on from mistakes. How to deal with and recover from growing pains/injury while playing down an age group to regain fitness. Being his own harshest critic. Don't put too much pressure on yourself and learn from your experiences, Great advice from Kyle. 

Join us as we discuss a variety of subjects and areas from comfort zones, adversity, resilience, creating pressure and dealing with it as an athlete. Robert gives his thoughts and advice on culture and the transition from youth to a 1st team adult environment. Robert has worked across a variety of elite sporting environments. He has also conducted research on the transition from youth to 1st team environments in football. 

Be you and play your game. Write down what you want to improve on, see it and then go early to training and try and improve. Dealing with injury and getting angry with yourself. Martin is honest and shares some advice for those chasing the football dream. 

Lets talk comfort zones, psychological safety, autopilot, focused learning blame and accountabilty. Reflection, openness, awareness and personal values are key skills to building an athlete. We also look to increase the discussions around disability sport and the many benefits sport can provide. 

Jamie's knowledge and passion flows as he explains how to deal with change. We talk mindset, emotions, culture and so much more. Jamie explores how to approach your life from a positive growth perspective. 

Life as a keeper is completely different to the outfield players. Always be involved in the game no matter where the ball is. Be vocal. Focus on mastering the simple things and trust the work you do in training. . 

James shares his story from academy to full time football. i need to impress, i wont get picked if i don't perform are just a couple of key goals James sets himself.  We discuss the joy of playing for my team as James outs it when he makes his First Team Debut, he also talks about making mistakes in the 1st team and the demand put on you despite being young. James really opens up on playing a role on the pitch that largely goes unnoticed but is vital to success.  i knew James was leader and a captain before he did and this chat shows why

From falling in love with football to losing the fun in it. An open and honest journey through Ryans Academy journey.  Ryan opens up on how uncertain you can feel moving through the academy set up. Whats it really like when you cant form a bond with the people in charge of your improvement as a player.  emotions are powerful, how you feel links to your performance and the emotional rollercoaster Ryan went on shines through in this episode.  some times the enviroment you get sucked into stops you from doing what you want to do which is stop and move on to the next thinking.  The takeaway form this episode is that if you want to coach you have to look at things from multiple perspectives and adopt a different approach for each person. 

Bravery and honesty from Struan as he opens up on chasing the contract, trying to manage the emotions and dealing with identity. the hardest worker wont always get rewarded or be successful is a eye opening statement and this Brutal honesty from Struan in this epsiode shows what chasing a dream looks like.  Having the maturity and an ability to reflect on incredibly emotional topics will give listener a clear view of what life is like in the academy set up.